Americas · Spanish · updated 2026-10
Moving to Chile: visas, cost of living & citizenship
A single person needs about $1,300 a month to live in Santiago, and a family of four about $2,950, including rent. Chile usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 2 yrs, with citizenship after 5 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Rentista / pensioner residence.
- Main city
- Santiago
- Language
- Spanish
- Permanent residence
- 2 yrs
- Citizenship
- 5 yrs
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Digital nomad visa
- No
Cost of living in Chile, per month in US$
Safety
Political stability & governance
Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Stable overall (65/100).
Family-friendliness
Visa & residence routes
Who gets easier access to Chile
The Mercosur Residence Agreement gives 2 years of residence with work rights, then permanent residence. No job offer needed.
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Visiting: 92 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 1 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).
Road to permanent residence & citizenship
Last checked 2026-10. Official source: serviciomigraciones.cl
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in Chile?
About $1,300 a month for one person and $2,950 for a family of four in Santiago, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $550 a month and a 3-bedroom around $1,000. Prices are 51% of US levels. Chile is the 20th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.
Is Chile safe to live in?
Chile scores 39/100 for safety (take care), ranking 61st of 76. The homicide rate is 6.35 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).
Is Chile politically stable?
Chile scores 65/100 for stability (stable), ranking 37th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.
Is Chile good for families?
Chile scores 57/100 for family-friendliness (good), ranking 48th of 76. Life expectancy is 81.4 years and under-5 mortality is 6.8 per 1,000 births.
How long does it take to get permanent residence in Chile?
Usually 2 yrs of legal residence.
How long until I can become a citizen of Chile?
Usually 5 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.
Can I move to Chile without a job offer?
Yes. Rentista / pensioner residence: Proof of regular income from abroad.
Who can live and work in Chile without a visa?
The Mercosur Residence Agreement gives 2 years of residence with work rights, then permanent residence. No job offer needed. (Mercosur Residence Agreement: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru.)
Similar countries in Americas
- Peru$1,300/mo · safety 28 · PR 3 yrs
Dominican Republic$1,250/mo · safety 35 · PR Day 1- Brazil$1,200/mo · safety 17 · PR 4 yrs
- Ecuador$1,150/mo · safety 8 · PR 2 yrs
- Argentina$1,550/mo · safety 44 · PR 3 yrs
- Colombia$1,050/mo · safety 8 · PR 5 yrs
See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Chile can move